Holden unseated

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Matthew A. Cartwright

20-year reign ends; Cartwright's home county carries him

By AL DIETZ tneditor@tnonline.com

Congressman Tim Holden's magic over the 17th Congressional District vanished into the night as he lost the Democratic Party's nomination to newcomer, Matthew A. Cartwright, an attorney from Lackawanna County, according to the unofficial results of Tuesday's Primary Election.

Ironically, Holden was always victorious when the 17th Congressional District had a majority of Republican registered voters; however, this year the state Senate redistricted it and turned it into a Democrat majority. Holden has served 20 years in Congress.

Holden carried his home Schuylkill County receiving 10,917 votes, or 85.17 percent, and Cartwright received 1,867 votes, or 14.57 percent. His total was somewhat surprising because he never personally campaigned in the county. Holden only managed to win Carbon County while losing the other four counties.

Cartwright ran up big margins in his home Lackawanna County and also captured winning totals in Luzerne, Monroe and Northampton.

In Lackawanna Cartright defeated Holden, 17,600 to just 5,006 for Holden, which was the key for the win.

The other count votes included:

Carbon: Holden 2,396, Cartright 1,246.

Luzerne: Cartwright 7,370, Holden 2,951.

Monroe: Cartright 1,934, Holden 1,073.

Northampton: Cartright 3,087, Holden 2,531.

The unofficial final tally for the entire district had Cartright with 33,104 votes to 24,874 for Holden.

Cartright will face off against Laureen A. Cummings, who was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

A Tea Party activist, she initially launched a campaign to run for the U.S. Senate before entering the race for Congress. A nurse by profession, she is the owner of Lorimar Home Care & Staffing Services Inc., Old Forge.

Other results

There were no other local contests.

Tim Seip, a former state representative, was unopposed for the Democratic nomination for state senator in the 29th Senatorial District and will oppose the incumbent state senator, David Argall, who won the Republican nomination.

State Rep. Neal P. Goodman was unopposed and will be the party's representative for the 123rd Schuylkill District.

The Republicans had no candidate on the ballot. However, there were 285 write-ins and perhaps someone came up with the sufficient required number of votes to be on the November ballot.

The Democrats had no candidate for the 124th Legislative District. However, there were 172 write-in votes, which may bring out a candidate to oppose the incumbent, Jerry Knowles, who won the Republican nomination.

Vicki Harman was unopposed as the Democratic party's candidate for state legislature in the 125th District garnering 2,972 votes. There were 46 write-ins. She will oppose the incumbent, Mike G. Tobash, who won the Republican nomination.

Write-in votes

President Barack Obama was the only candidate on the Democratic ballot for president and received 9,077 votes.

There were 782 write-in votes for someone else. Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr., won easily in Schuylkill County defeating Joseph John Vodvarka. Casey polled 10,392 votes in the county to his opponent's 1,315. Casey won an easy victory statewide.

In the contest for state attorney general, Kathleen G. Kane received 8,092 votes to Patrick Murphy's 3,885 for the Democratic nod; state treasurer, Robert M. McCord, unopposed, received 9,912 votes for the Democratic nomination.

Delegates

The eight delegate candidates who will be going to the Democratic National Convention to be held in Charlotte, N.C., in September received votes in Schuylkill County as follows:

There was only one alternate delegate. Alexander B. Altieri. Northampton County, received 8,126 votes in the county. There were 82 write-ins.

Library tax

There was a referendum question on the ballot for precincts in Schuylkill County, who are part of the Hazleton Area School District, located in Luzerne County. The question was whether the voters favor supporting the Hazleton Area Public Library by eliminating the current funding allocation system and establishing a real estate tax levied by the Hazleton Area School District.

The vote of the county precincts was as follows:

East Union Township, 93 yes votes and 190 no votes.

Kline Township, 126 yes votes and 174 no votes.

McAdoo Borough, First Precinct, 93 yes votes and 73 no votes; Second Precinct, 79 yes votes and 121 no votes.